1

Neither Inuyasha nor Mousse knew where Yubaba had taken Kagome, but Inuyasha knew someone who might. Myouga, the little flea that was always full of information about other demons, should surely know about this Yubaba witch. Inuyasha and Mousse had arrived at the ashen wasteland that was Toutousai's homeland. Inuyasha turned to Mousse and said, "Humans cannot set foot on this ground, or they'll get burned."

Mousse smiled. "Then I shall fly." And from his sleeve he pulled out a container of cold water, and splashed it on himself. He transformed into a duck and took to the sky. Inuyasha stared at him dumfounded. The duck quacked, signaling for him to get a move on, so he did.

A little while later, Inuyasha and the duck arrived at Toutousai's house. "Yo," Inuyasha called into the house, "Toutousai! You here?"

Toutousai emerged from his house. "Oh, it's you, Inuyasha. Please," he motioned for him to come in. He and the duck entered the house. "What do I owe this pleasure?"

"Is Myouga here?" Inuyasha asked as he sat down on the ground cross-legged. The duck landed on a small green mat next to him. Inuyasha got his answer right away as he felt something prick his neck. He slapped the bug, crushing it, then picked it up. It was the little flea, Myouga.

"Why, hello there, Master Inuyasha!" the flea said cheerfully. Then he looked at the duck. "What's that duck doing here?" The duck quacked.

"I have a problem," Inuyasha said. "Kagome was kidnapped by a witch named Yubaba and we don't know where she's taken her."

"Yubaba?" Myouga said, putting one of his four hands up to his chin. "I'm sorry, Master, but for once I don't have the answer."

A feeling of terror and hopelessness washed over Inuyasha. But what Toutousai said next suppressed it. "Yubaba, you say?" He sat down opposite to Inuyasha. "Short old hag, gray hair, purple clothes, looks like something out of Oz?" Inuyasha nodded. "I've heard of her. She owns a string of bathhouses all over Japan. Very classy places. Her headquarters are in the northern providences. That is where her first bathhouse was constructed. That's probably where she's keeping Kagome."

"Tell me how to get there!" Inuyasha demanded.

"It's not easy," Toutousai frowned. "It's a long and treacherous journey." He looked up into space and added, "But I guess you're used to that."

"I don't care how dangerous it is!" Inuyasha exclaimed. "I just want Kagome back!"

"I know," Toutousai said. "Myouga, could I speak with you for a second?" Myouga jumped onto Toutousai's shoulder, and they went into the blackness of the house to talk.

Mousse quacked, but Inuyasha didn't even hear it.

2

Even as humiliated as they were, Ginta and Hakkaku could not argue with the results. Kyouken and Sakaki had already found a very cozy home and it wasn't much of a journey back to where they used to live, in the forest that separated Inuyasha's village from Kagura's. The cave was on top of a cliff that overlooked a massive forest. It was a really beautiful sight. The cave was part of a small rocky hill that rose up from the cliff. Near the top was another cave (Sakaki personally found this to be an added bonus, but nobody else, not even Kyouken, knew why) that was much smaller than the cave that was to be their home.

Kyouken sat on the cliff, looking at the forest below. A humble Ginta joined him. "I really must admit," he said meekly, "you and your sister are doing a good job leading us."

"Thank you," Kyouken smiled. "It's about time that things started going right for us, eh?"

"Hey," Ginta protested, "Hakkaku and me weren't that bad..."

"I didn't mean that," Kyouken said softly. "All that I meant was that now we have a big home, and no enemies to worry about."

"Oh," Ginta said, "I understand now. You're talking about the Hyourouzoku."

Author's note: Hyourouzoku means Ice Wolf Family. I changed it from Kooriookami (from the first story) so that it makes more sense.

Kyouken nodded. "The Yourouzoku and the Hyourouzoku had been at war with each other for the longest time," he explained, even though Ginta knew the history well. "Finally, a male wolf from our tribe and a female wolf from theirs decided that a stop should be put to all the fighting. They got together and had two children, who grew up to become the leaders of the Hyourouzoku. Then the male wolf came back and had a love child with a female wolf of our tribe."

"Kouga," Ginta said.

Again, Kyouken nodded. "The Hyourouzoku," he continued, "were so outraged, that the feud became worse. Several battles were fought, and much blood was shed. But then..." He trailed off.

"Inuyasha won the war against the ice army," Ginta finished for him, "And the Hyourouzoku were part of the ice army. So, no more ice army meant no more Hyourouzoku. What's the point of this history lesson?"

"I don't think," Kyouken said gravely, "that it's exactly over yet."

"What does that mean?"

Kyouken closed his eyes and chuckled a little. "I'm not sure, Ginta. Not sure at all." He opened his eyes and continued looking out at the forest.

3

Fuyuka opened his eyes and rubbed them. He sat up and looked around; there was nothing but silence and blackness. But had he not just heard a voice? He shrugged it off and closed his eyes. He lay there for a few minutes, but couldn't get back to sleep, so he stood up from his surprisingly comfortable bed and began to pace the cell. It took up about half of the basement, so he had a lot of room to move around. They had given him a few toys to play with, like a weight machine, a small black and white television set, several books and a Creepy Crawlers maker. But even those things could entertain a person for only so long. He was beginning to get very, very bored, and those weights were starting to call out to him

(please, mr. fuyuka, sir... drop us on your feet... it'll feel oh so good...)

and taunt him.

But, he resisted the call of insanity. He had to hold out for just a little while longer. Soon those creatures that called themselves humans up there would feel pity for him and let him free. He sighed, walked back to his bed and sat down on it. "Those fuckers," he muttered to himself, "I'm gonna make them fucking pay."

And why shouldn't you?

Fuyuka leapt to his feet. "Who said that?" he cried. No answer. He laughed nervously and sat back down on the bed. "Great," he said with another chuckle, "I've finally lost it. I'm hearing voices and talking to myself."

Though it is true you are hearing voices and talking to yourself, I assure you, it is not your imagination.

The voice began to take on a familiar personality after that last sentence. Fuyuka immediately knew to whom he was talking. "Where are you?"

Not far.

"Why have you waited this long to contact me?" he growled angrily. "I've been rotting away in this jail cell for months now!"

No. You have been being kept safe and looked after. Think about it. Those weights have been making your body stronger, and those books have been making your mind stronger.

"So?"

Just hang tight a little while longer. I'm tying up a few more loose ends. When I'm finished, you'll be number one on my to-do list.

He lay back down on the bed. There was no mistaking it. That voice that he was talking to. It was definitely hers. And that meant that he would be out of that hellhole in no time. Then he would make them pay. All of them. Slowly. He smiled at the horrible thoughts that were racing around in his mind.